REGION: Promoter says he may delay new rock 'n' roll run

A co-founder of the
San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon
who was pushing for a music-themed run along Highway 101 in February said Thursday he will probably have to delay the event for a year.

"My heart says 2013, but my brain says 2014," said Peter Douglass, who has been talking with officials in Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar for the past several weeks about the run.

Douglass, who also co-founded the
Carlsbad 5000
, has put together a detailed proposal for a 10-mile route from Del Mar to Encinitas. Local bands would perform on 20 small stages, each stationed about a half-mile apart.

The biggest obstacle is an
18-month construction project
on Coast Highway in Solana Beach that only recently got under way. One lane in each direction has been shut down, medians are being torn up and motorists are practically banging their heads in frustration.

No one can say for certain what the street would look like on Feb. 17, the day Douglass hoped to stage the run that would be dubbed the California 10/20.

Organizers anticipated up to 10,000 runners on the out-and-back course, which would start and end at the Del Mar fairgrounds.

Douglass said he needs to secure approval from the cities involved within 30 days if they hope to stage the event in 2013. The city councils in Encinitas and Solana Beach on Wednesday directed their staffs to keep talking with Douglass, but Solana Beach council members were skeptical about the timing.

"All of us feel that this would be a big plus for our community and would provide an opportunity to showcase our community," Solana Beach Mayor Joe Kellejian said. "The concern is, 'Do we want to showcase it with the 101 being all torn up?'"

Douglass had remained optimistic Wednesday night, but by Thursday appeared resigned to having to wait a year. He said he would further contemplate his options this weekend, fly back to his home in Austin, Texas, and make a decision Monday morning.

"Most likely, it will be 2014," he said. "Frankly, we're getting really short on time to market and produce this thing."

Douglass' company,
Turnkey Operations
, held its first 10-mile music run in Austin on April 15. Some 8,000 runners and walkers took part in the Austin 10/20.

Austin officials said Thursday that Douglass would face a tougher challenge getting approval from three jurisdictions in such a short amount of time. But they were impressed with Douglass' professionalism.

"He came to us well in advance, he already had a plan that he gave to our team. He did his homework," said Frances Hargrove, a manager in Austin's special events office who worked with Turnkey on the route and street closures.

Turnkey has applied to have the second Austin 10/20 on April 14, 2013.

Del Mar City Clerk Mercedes Martin said the city council there will wait to see how the proposal plays out in Solana Beach and Encinitas before it takes any action.

A spokeswoman for the Del Mar fairgrounds said that once all permits are secured, Douglass could seek approval to have the start and finish line there.